Obituary of Bettina Geyer Thompson

Bettina Geyer Thompson passed on to the next life on March 12, 2024.

Bettina was born on February 5, 1938 to William M. and Elsie Wolf Geyer in New Jersey. She attended Bloomfield public schools and went to Marietta College in Ohio where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. She was a proud member of Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity for Women. While in college, she met and married Charles F. Thompson, II. She worked for a few years as a chemist for B. F. Goodrich Plastics, testing raw and finished goods. Sensing that this was not her career path, she returned to Marietta to earn a teaching certificate. She was employed in the Marietta City School system. Along the way, she earned a Master's degree in Education from Ohio University.

Moving to Tucson in 1982, she was employed by the Sunnyside School District for 18 years at Chaparral Jr.High/Middle School. A year after being divorced, she decided to buy a new car. The handsome salesman, Herbert (Herb) Erickson, charming and witty, made her laugh at his sometimes corny jokes. When she asked him to go to the Gaslight Theater, he readily accepted, and took her to dinner before the show. Thus began a romantic courtship, culminating in their marriage on December 26, 1998.

In their 13+ years together, they went on 23 cruises, visiting Europe, South and Central America, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Australia & New Zealand. They also spent 3 weeks in China teaching ESL at a university. They also traveled to many parts of the U.S. Herb became gravely ill after they returned from their respective 50-year college reunions. He died in Sept., 2011. Bettina, bitten by the travel bug, continued traveling and cruising, along with bridge vacations.

She is survived by several cousins scattered across the country, and by her dear friend Jane Nott.

Memorial gifts could be made to Thompson-Erickson Mathematics Scholarship Fund at Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio, or a charity of your choice.